BW Walch's OGAP Professional Learning Earns ESSA Strong Evidence Rating for Driving Math Gains

Empowering teachers to close persistent math learning gaps, OGAP ranks among the top programs nationwide with one of the highest effect sizes for Grades 3–5

PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BW Walch announced today that its OGAP (Ongoing Assessment Project) Professional Learning program has been rated the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tier I: Strong Evidence rating by Evidence for ESSA. This recognition places OGAP among a select group of K–8 math professional learning programs nationwide that meet the highest federal standard for research-based impact.

"At a time when closing math learning gaps is critical, OGAP stands out for its ability to empower teachers with the knowledge, tools, and routines they need to strengthen instruction and accelerate student learning," said Division Manager OGAP Math, Jessica Jeffers. "Unlike dashboards or benchmark tests, OGAP is professional learning that builds teacher expertise in both mathematics content and pedagogy."

The randomized controlled trial, conducted by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) at the University of Pennsylvania and funded by the National Science Foundation, evaluated OGAP's implementation in Grades 3–5 across 61 schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Published in the American Journal of Education and reviewed by Evidence for ESSA, the study included an analytic sample of 3,488 students and found that OGAP achieved an average effect size of +0.20. Results showed:

• Students in OGAP schools significantly outperformed peers in control schools on Pennsylvania's standardized math test (PSSA).
• Teachers using OGAP demonstrated stronger knowledge of student mathematical thinking, as measured by the Teacher Assessment of Student Knowledge.
• OGAP is the only professional learning system for K-5 to earn an ESSA Tier I: Strong rating, and it achieved the highest effect size of all professional learning programs across K-8

By strengthening reasoning across the four OGAP strands — additive, multiplicative, fractional, and proportional — teachers gain a clearer view of how today's lessons connect to tomorrow's demands. This vertical alignment helps districts reduce the risk of students struggling in Algebra.

"OGAP gives teachers more than tools; it builds deep expertise in both math content and pedagogy, so they can see inside student reasoning and respond with precision," said Jeffers. "This ESSA Strong Evidence rating validates what districts tell us every day: OGAP doesn't just improve instruction now, it strengthens the K–8 foundation so more students are ready for Algebra."

Unlike a curriculum, OGAP is professional development that equips teachers to make more effective use of their current instructional materials. Training includes summer institutes, ongoing PLCs, coaching, and access to tools such as learning progressions and an item bank of hundreds of diagnostic probes that give teachers evidence from student work to identify misconceptions early.

"This new research confirms that OGAP is transformative for both teachers and students," concluded Jeffers. "By focusing on learning trajectories and student reasoning, OGAP truly helps educators identify misconceptions earlier and guide students toward stronger mathematical reasoning."

For more information on OGAP professional learning, visit www.ogapmathllc.com

About BW Walch
BW Walch is a leading provider of innovative math solutions, including OGAP professional learning and aligned, customized math curriculums, that empower teachers and students to achieve success. With a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and deep expertise in mathematics education, BW Walch supports schools and districts nationwide in building sustainable improvement in teaching and learning. For more information go to: [email protected].

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SOURCE BW Walch